Control system



Aug. 20, 1935. A.'S. RUFSVOLD 2,011,653

com'aon SYSTEM Filed Jan. 7, 1932 1 s Sheets-Sheet '1 .W/T/VESSES '77 INVENTOR Aug. 20, 1935. Y A. s. RUFSVOLD I CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. '7, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 14a J I 5? I I49 I [8/ I Lt? WITNESSES: INVENTOR I a4 Mo/dse em/q:

Aug. 20, 1935. A. s. RUFSVOLD 2,011,653 CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 7, 1932 v s Sheets-Sheet s WITNESSES 2 d x7rr2a/d5Eu/rra/d INVENTOR be utilized with rubber mill machinery, such, for

atented Aug. 20, 1935 CONTROL SYSTEM Arnold S. Rui'svold, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 7, 1932, Serial No. 585,291 Q '19 Claims. (01. 242-15) My invention relates, in general, to control systems and particularly to control systems that may example, as calenders and the like.

In the manufacture of. rubber material, it is necessary in certain cases to wind a strip of rubher on a reel as it is withdrawn from a calender while subjecting the rubber material to but very little, if any, tension. In view of the fact that the rubber material cannot be subjected to tension,

I provide for winding the rubber upon the reel with a slack-loop or a sag between the calender and the reel. Furthermore, as the material is being wound upon the reel, the diameter of the reel gradually increases, thus makingit necessary to correspondingly decrease. the speed of the reel 1 in order to maintain the sag of the slack-loop substantially the same during the entire'winding operation.

An object of my invention is to provide for transferring material from a delivering means to a receiving'means with a slack-loop and for so regulating the speed of the receiving means rela; tive to the delivering means that the sag of the slack-loop remains substantially the same at all time.

Another object of my invention is to provide for so cooperatively operating a delivering and a receiving means that the tension of. the material which passes from the former to they latter is reduced to a minimum at all times and for any oper-.

ating condition.

A further-object of my invention is to provide for operating the speed of a receiving means in accordance with the rate of speed at which mate rial may be delivered to said means. I

Alsoan object of my invention is to provide for transferring material from a delivering means to a receiving means with a slack-loop andfor utll-' izing said slack-loop for regulating the speed of 1 the receiving means.

It is also an object of my invention to provide for-regulating the speed of. a receiving means in accordance with the status of ya slack-loop of the material as it is being received by the same means.

It is likewise an object of my invention to provide a control system of the class indicated, that shall be simple and reliable inoperation and'be readily andeconomically manufactured and installed.

Other objects wilihereinaflter become apparent] For a full understanding o1 the nature and the objects of my invention,.reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of-my invention, taken in strength of the winding 2|;

connection with the following detailed description, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram of a control system shown in connection with a calender, and embodying the ,features of my invention; 5

disposed to drive the calender l0 and the generator 20, a rotatable reel 3| driven by a motor- 32 through a suitable speed reducer, a photoglow tube 38 that is responsive to a light source 39, and a variable rheostat 41 for the generator -actuated by a motor 44 and controlled by the 20 relays 42 and 43.

The calender l0 comprises three revoluble rolls' H, I 2 and I3 disposed in-"substantial vertical alignment so as to work a supply 'of rubber it into a fiat sheet of the desired width and thickness. The rubber sheet, upon leaving the calender rolls, is disposed to ride over a rotatably mounted roll 31 and thence with a slack-loop to the rotat able reel 3|.

As is usual practice in constructing calenders, the centrally disposed roll I2 is driven at a relatively low speed by a motor I! though a suitable gear reduction comprising a worm wheel l5 and a worm l6. Inasmuch as the operating conditions of a calender call for an approximate speed range 35 ,of 4 to 1 an adjustable rheostat- I8 is connected in circuit with the shunt field I9 of the motor I! for the purpose of providing said speed range. Because of the 4 to 1 speed range of the motor I], together with the fact that the diameter of. the

rotatable roll 3| in generahvaries from approximately 6" to 30 from an empty roll to a full roll closed circuit with the ,armature oi the generator 20 that is driven by the motor II. In this manner the speedof the motor 32 is controlleddirectly by the armature voltage of the'generator 20, which is a function of the speed at.which thesaid generator is driven, by the motor I11, and the field 5 Generally speaking, sincethe speed of the generator varies in accordance with the speed at which the calender is driven, the variations inthe field strength of the winding 2| need be only sufficient to compensate for the increase in the diameter of the rotatable roll 3|. That is to say, a speed variation of- 4 to 1 for the motor ||,together with a variation of field. strength approximately 5 to '1, produces'an output voltage range As the diameter of the roll 3| increases, it is manifested that the speed of the driving motor 32 must, correspondingly, be decreased in order to maintain substantially the same sag of the slack-loop between the calender roll 31 and the reel=3|. -Accordingly. when the slack-loop rises a certain amount as a result of the increase in the diameter of the reel 3|, the light source 33,

illuminates the photo-glow tube 38, which causes -it to function to pass suflicient current to operate 'j the relay 43.. The relay 43, whenclosed, energizes the split field winding 46 of the motor 44 in such direction that the motor actuates the rheostat arm 43 to the left to reduce the field strength of the winding 2| of the generator 23. The limit switches 49 and 53 associated with variable resistor 41 and normally biased closed by the illustrated springs, serve to deenergize the ,motor 44 when the arm 43 reaches the end of its travel, in either direction. I

,A photo-glow tube is similar to a gas filled, j photo-electric cell, except that the gas pressure is considerably higher.

The operation of the photo-glow tube is substantially like the operation of a very sensitive relay. In other words, when under the influence of a light source, the said tube functions to pass current between the illustrated electrodes, representing the closed position of a relay, and when not under the influence of a light source, the tube'functions to pass no current, representing an open circuit condition of a relay. As illustrated, the photo-glow tube 33 is connected in circuit with the winding of the relay 43 and when operated at sufiicient voltage, together with a suitable light source, the electron glow resultin from the photo-electric effect is suflicient to ionize the gas and initiate a glow discharge-between the illustrated electrodes thereof.

--The glow discharge of a photo-glow tube is suiiicient to operate sturdy relays, since several milliamperes. may flow therethrough.

It will be noted that when a glow discharge is established, means must be provided for extinguishing the said discharge whenthe slack-loop intercepts the light source.

Inother words, if the illumination is increased above th'ebreak-down point and then decreased,

no amount of reduction in illumination will cause theglow to cease. That is, to say, for the glow discharge to cease, the voltage to which the tube is subjected must be reduced below the fixed direct current break-down voltage. For'the purpose of reducing the. voltage below this voltage,

I employ a vibrating interrupter 5| which may be of any conventional type connected in series circuit-relation with the photo-glow tube,

In this manner when the light source radiat ing from the light 33 is intercepted by the slackloop of the rubber strip, and when the pulsating uni-directional current decreases to substantially zero, theglow discharge ceases immediately.

In explaining the operation of the control system, let it be assumed that the positive supply conductor 65 and the negative supply conductor 66 are energized, that the manually operated v switches 63 and 6.4 are closed, and that the slackloop or the rubber'strip is interceptingthelight source 33. Under this assumed condition, the

motor II that drives thecalender l3 and the generator 23 is energizedby a circuit that extends from the positive supply conductor 65 through,conductor 61, the motor l1, and conductor 68 to the negative supply conductor'fifi.

At the same time, the shunt field winding I9 is energized; through the variable resistor III, which may be adjusted to accommodate any desirable speed condition of the calender In. Just as soon as the motor I! begins to run, the gen-.

erator 20 provides power for operating the reel motor-32. The armature of'the generator 23 is connected in closed circuit with the armature of the reel motor 32 through a conductor 10, 'a'

manuallyoperable'switch G4 anda return conductor II.

' The field 33 of the motor" is connected directly across the supply conductors 35 and 36 by conductors 28 and 29, and accordingly the speed of the motor 32 is controlled directly by" the output voltage of the generator 23. The light source 39 is connected directly across the supply canductors through conductors I53 'and'lifl.

For thepurpose of varying the fleldstrength ;of the generator 20, a motor operated rheostat 41 is connected in seriescircuit relation therewith. This circuit may be from the'positive supply conductor 65 through conductors l3 and 94, the arm 48 of the rheostat, the resisting units of the rheostat 41, conductor 35, 'the field winding 2| and conductor 36 to the negative supply conductor 66. In this particular embodimerit of the invention, it will be observed that in order to maintain substantially the same sag in the slack-loop, the field strength of the windsame proportion as the diameter of the rotatable reel 3| increases.

In order to accomplish this feature,:it will be observed that even though the speed of the rotatable reel 3| is constant, the gradually increasand permits the light source 33 to excite the photo-glow tube 38. When a glow discharge is {initiated m the photo-glow tube as, it passes current for energizing the winding of the relay 43. This circuit may be traced from the posiing 2| must be decreased substantially in the i ing diameter of the reel 3| raises the slack-loop tive conductor 65 through conductor 12', the vi- Y brating interrupter 5|, the photo-glow tube'33,

, conductors 13 and 14, the winding of the relay 43-, conductor 15 the limit switch 49, and conductors l6 and 11' to the negative supply conductor 66.

The-relay 43, when operated, establishes acircuit for energizing the motor 44. This circuit may be traced from the positive supply conductor through conductors I3 and", the armature of the motor 44, conductor 83, the split field winding 46, conductor 8|, the contacts of the relay 43, and conductor 82- to the negative supply conductor 66. Just as soon as the above-traced circuit is established, the motor 44 'actuates the rheostat arm 48 to the left. Accordingly, as the rheostat arm '43 moves to the left more resistance is connected in circuit with the .fleld' winding 2| to reduce the output voltage of the generator 2I I, with the result that the speed of the motor 22 is correspondingly decreased.

The motor 44 continues to operate the arm .48

to the left until the speed of the reel motor 32 has been decreased sumciently to cause the slackloop to intercept the light source 39. At this instant, the glow discharge of the photo-glow tube is extinguished, resulting in the deenergization of the relay 43 which, when open, interrupts the circuit for energizing the motor 44. However, in a relatively short period of time, theslack-loop again rises, since the diameter of the reel 3i is ever increasing, and permits light to fall upon the photo-glow tube '38, which, in cooperation with the relay 43 and the motor-operated resistor 41, as hereinbefore explained, decreases the fieldstrength of the winding 2|. This cycle of operation is repeated continually from the time that the reel is empty until it is full. However, I find in some cases that it is desirable to allow the operator to regulate the speed of the reel 3| independently of the speed control effected by the photo-glow tube 38. a For this purpose, I provide for reversing the polarity of thefleld flux of the motor 66 by means of the relays 42 and 43, together with their associated push-button switches 40 and, GI. Therefore, when the operator desires to'decrease the speed of the reel motor 32, independently of the functioning of the photo-glow tube, he'merely depresses the push-button M that is normally biased to open position by the illustrated spring.

This completes a circuit for energizing the relay 43, which, when operated, together with the motor operated rheostat 31 decreases the speed of the reel motor 32, as hereinbefore explained.

lay 32, which, when operated, connects the field winding 45 with the motor 6%. The circuit for energizing the relay 62 may be traced from the positive supply conductor 65 through conductor 91, push-button Mi, conductor 38, the winding of the relay 42, conductor 33 the limit switch I 50, and conductors I00 and It to the negative supply conductor 86.

When the relay 62 is closed, the current for operating the motor at flows from the positive conductor 65 through conductors I8 and '39, the

- armature of the motor 44, the split .fleld winding 45, conductor .82, the contacts of relay 32, and conductor 83 to the negative supply conductor 66. Under this condition, since the field current traverses the winding 65 instead of the winding 46, the motor M operates in the direction to actuate the rheostat arm #8 to the right. In consequence, the field strength oi. the winding 2| is increased, which in turn causes the generator 28 to generate more voltage for increasing the speed of the motor 32. i

It is apparent that as long as the push-button 40 is depressed, the motor as continues to operate in the direction to, gradually exclude the resistor units of therheostat 4'! from the circuit of field winding 2|. the circuit which energizes the motor is is interrupted when the rheostat 68 is actuated to the extreme right, or to the extreme left.- This arrangement is in accordance with the usual practice 'in constructing motor-operated rheostats for the purpose of stopping the motor when the However, it will'be' observed that either direction.

Therefore, the control system shown in Figure 1 provides for transferring material from a delivering means to a receiving means with a slack-loop and for so regulating the speed of the receiving means relative to the speed of the delivering means that the amplitude of the slackloop is substantially the same throughout the operating period.

The control system of Figure 2, is shown in connection with a conveyor H8 and a delivering means IIB. However, in this embodiment of the invention the motor I I I that drives the delivering means I Ill is operated independently of the motor II9 that operates the conveyor 8. Generally,-

sponsive to the'photo-glow tubes..a motor operated rheostat I33, and a manually operated rheostat I31. I

The delivering means III) is shown somewhat diagrammatically, since it may take the form of many different types of machines to which my invention may be readily applied. As diagrammatically shown, the delivering means includes two cooperatively disposed rollers H2 and H3 driven by the motor III. The material, after it passes between the rollers, isejected from the delivering means over the rollers IIS so as to relieve the material of an undue strain.

Preferably, as illustrated, the motor III may be energized from any suitable source other than the supply conductors I and I5I such as the supply conductors I08 and I09. The delivering means I I0 is so disposed relative to the conveyor means H8 that the material is free to sag and form a slack-loop as it passes from the former to the latter.

The conveyor means H8 is, likewise, shown somewhat diagrammatically, because there are many types of conveyors to which my inventionmay be readily applied. As illustrated, the conveyor H3 comprises a plurality of rollers over which the material passes after leaving the rotatable driving roll I I! that is driven by the motor I I9 through a gear reduction I28 of any suitable type.

In this embodiment of the invention, the purpose of the control system is to so regulate the speed of the conveyor motor 9 that the slackloop is maintained substantially the same' throughout the operating period.

In view of the fact that in usual practice the speed range of the delivering means I I0 is not more than 4 to 1 together with the fact that the diameter of the driving roll III is constant, unlike the rotatable reel of ever-increasing diameter, speed control may be effected by varying the field strength of the field winding m of the" motor 9. This is accomplished by means of the motor-operated rheostat I33, together with the manually-operated rheostat I31. The con-;

struction and operation of the motor-operated rheostat I39 is the same as that previously described for the motor-operated rheostat 41 shown in Figure 1.

Likewise the photo-glow tubes I22 and I23 respond to their associated light sources I23 and I25 in the same manner as the photo-glow tube 38 shown in Fig. l responds to its light source 39; n

In explaining the operationof the control cirstat I39, and conductor IS I to the negative sup- 1;. scripts cuit shown in Figure 2, let it be assumed that the motor III, which'drives the delivering means I I 0, is energized by the supply conductors I06 and I09. when the supply conductors ISfl and Iti are energized, the armature of the motor H9 is connected directly across the supply sourc through a circuit extending from the positive supply conductor I50 through conductor I52, the armature of the motor H9, and conductor I53 to the negative supply conductor I5I. The circuit for energizing the field winding of the motor 3 may be traced from the positive supply conduc-r tor I59 through conductor I54, the field winding I2I, conductor I55, the manually-operated rheostat I31, conductor I 60, the motor-operated rheoply conductor I5I. I

with the slack-loop in the stabilized position as illustrated in the drawings, the photo-glow tube I22 is passing no current while the tube I23 is assing current to energize the relay I II. The current that energizes the relay III flows from the positive supply conductor I59 through conductor I19, the current interrupter I21, the photoglow tube I 23, conductor I83, the push-button I69, conductor I8I, the winding of the relay Ml, conductor I82, the limit switch I42, and conductors I83 and I84 to the negative supply conductor I5 I.

- When the contacts of-the relays I26 and I8? are open, the motor I43 that operates the rheostat I39 is deenergized. This stabilized condition may ex remains unchanged.

ist for a relatively long period of time, if the relative speed of the delivering means and conveyor However,- for the purpose I72 and I15, the winding of the relay I86, conductor I16, the limit switch III and conductors 1 I11 and I84 to the negative supply conductors I5I.

The contacts of the relay I 25, when closed, establish a circuit for operating the motor M3. This circuit extends from the positive supply conductor IEII through conductor I82, the armature of the motor M3, conductor I90, the split field winding I55, conductor IQI, the contacts of the relay I I66, and conductor I92 to the negative conductor I5I.

Under this condition, the motor I43 actuates the rheostat arm I80 to the right, which increases the field'strength of the motor H9 for reducing its speed. The motor I43 continues to actuate the rheostat arm I20 to the right until the speed of the conveyor motor I ashes decreased sumciently to cause the slack-loop to intercept the light source I24, whereupon the glow discharge of photo-glow tube I 22 ceases. At this point stable operation between the delivering means and the conveyor means is established and the motor H9 will continue to operate at this speed uhless the speed of the delivery meanschanges. Assuming that the speed of the delivering means increases the sag of the slack-loop of the material increases and intercepts the light source I25. The absence of light upon the photo-glow tube I23 extinguishes the glow discharge and interrupts the circuit that energizes the relay III.

{The contacts of the relay I41, when closed, com 'plete a circuit. for operating the rheostat motor I43 in the reverse direction to increase the speed of the conveyor 8. This circuit may be traced from-the positive supply conductor I50, through conductor I89, the armature of the motor I23,

co nductor I I99, the split field winding I24, conductor I93, the contacts of relay I41, andcon= ductor I96 to the negative supply conductor ISI.

In this case, since the field current traverses the split field winding I44 instead of the split a glowdischarge for energizing the relay III,

which interrupts the circuit for operating the motor I23. \At this point, if the speed of the conveyor H8 and the delivering means H0 remains the same, stable operation is again resumed, and

It will continue to persist as long asthe slacls loop is maintained between the level of the two light sources I26 and I25 I In addition to the motor-operated rheostat, I employ amanually-operated rheostat I31 for further adjusting the field strength of the motor I I9. However, it is only necessary to operate the rheostat I37 when it is desirable to regulate the speed independently of the photo-glow tubes, and when the range of the motor-operated rheostat I39 is 'insumcient to control properly the field strength of the motor H9. Likewise, I employ two push-buttons I42 and I49 for obtaining speed control independently of the functioning of the photo-glow tubes I22 and I23.

By depressing the push-button I 48, a circuit is completed tor-energizing the relay I86 in the same manner as if thephoto-glow tube I22 were passing current. The contacts of the relay I46,

when closed, cause the motor-operated rheostat I39 to function the same'as previously describe relative to the photo-glow tube I22.

By depressing the push-button I22, the circuit that energizes the relay I6! is interrupted and,

when the contacts thereof are closed, a circuit is established for causing the motor I63 to operate I the same as it would if the photo-glow tube I23 were passing no current. By means of the pushbuttons I23 and I65, the operator may control the speed of the conveyor I I3 at will for the purpose of accommodating any desired operating condition.

Therefore, the control circuits shown in Fig. 2 7

provide for regulating the speed of a receiving means in accordance with the rate of speed at which material may be delivered thereto.

The control circuit shown in Fig. 3 is a modifled form of the control circuit shown in Fig.1 and like parts are represented by the same reference characters. In the control circuit in Fig. 3, a photo-electric cell I99, connected in circult with a grid-glow tube 206 and a relay 2m replace the photo-glow tube 38, shown in Fig. l. The operation of the photo-electric cell I99 is dissimilar to the operation of the photo-glow tube, in that the resistance which it oilers to the flow of current varies substantially directly proportionally to the amount of illumination fallingupon the said cell. When there is no light falling upon the photo-electric cell, its resistance is exinserted in the circuit for producing a pulsating ingly, the grid-glow tube acts as a rectifier as tremely high and consequently, it passes practically no current. When the photo-electric cell is illuminated, as a result of a higher position i of the slack-loop, the resistance is sufiiciently reduced to operate the grid-glow tube 206, which is able to pass sufficient current for operating sturdy relays for industrial purposes.

In view of the fact that the photo-electric cells in their present stage of development are unable to pass sufilcient current for operating sturdy relays without considerable expense, I employ the said grid-glow tube. However, it is to be understood that when a photo-electric cell is developed to pass suflicient current to operate relays economically, I may utilize it to operate the relay 43 directly.

The grid-glow tube 200 comprises an anode 201 and a cathode 209 which are generally called the principal electrodes, and a grid 208 associated therewith.- In this connection, the grid of a gridglow tube is efi'ective only in preventing or initiating a glow-discharge, but cannot be made to extinguish or control the discharge after it is started, whereas the grid in a conventional thermionic tube at all times maintains control over the current passing between the anode and the cathode. For this reason, since the grid-glow tube functions substantially as a very sensitive relay, I have preferably employed a grid-glow tube instead of a thermionic tube. However, I do not intend to limit my control system to a grid-glow tube, since a thermionic tube may be utilized instead.

- 209. The resistor 2I6, together with the photoelectric cell I99, constitute a potentiometer for biasing the grid voltage near that of'the anode when the photo-electric cell I99 is illuminated by the light source 39, as a result of a higher position of the slack-loop.

I have preferably illustrated the grid-glow tube 206 in association with a circuitenergized by alternating current, supplied by the transformer 203, instead of showing it as being utilized with direct current, for the simple reason that when the alternating current passes through zero, pro vided, however, at the same time, that the photoelectric cell is not illuminated, the glow discharge of a grid-glow tube is extinguished. Direct current may be utilized if a vibrating interrupter is current which causes the glow discharge tobecome extinct when no light is falling upon the photo-electric cell- I99.

As illustrated, one terminal of the secondary winding 205 ofthe transformer 203, through conductors 2" and 2I3, is connected to the cathode 209, and the other terminal of the secondary winding, through conductor 2I5, the winding of the relay 2 I0, a variable resistor 2 I2, is connected to the anode 207. Therefore, when a glow discharge is established between the principal electrodes 201 and 209 of the grid-glow tube 206,51. circuit is completed for energizing the relay 2I0,

which, when closed, operates the relay 43. In the usual construction of a grid-glow tube, the

' anodaiscentrally and vertically disposed within the tube and is small compared to the surrounding disposed cylindrical cathode, and, accordthe result of the point-to-plane principle.

In general, it may be said that the current passing through the tube is proportional to the area of the negative electrode. That is to say, when the outer cylinder is negative, a largecurrent flows, and when the small centrally disposed electrade is negative, very little current passes. Therefore, I employ a capacitor 2 inparallel 'with the winding of the relay 2| 0 for the purpose of making the flow of the unidirectional current through the winding of the relay 2 I0 as continuous as possible.

In explaining the operation of the photo electric cell and the grid-glow tube, let it be assumed that the primary winding 209 of the transformer is energized from a suitable source ofaltemating current such as the conductors 200 and I, and

that the position of the slack-loop is such as to intercept the light source 39. Under this condition, the resistance of the photo-electric cell I99 is extremely high and, in consequence, the grid potential relative to the cathode potential, between which electrodes the discharge always begins, is insufiicient to initiate a discharge. The tube, when in this condition, passes no current between the principal electrodes, with the result that the relay 2I0 is deenergized. Therefore, the circuit that energizes the relay 43 is interrupted, and the speed of the motor 32 remains the same.

Assuming that, as a result of the increased diameter of the rotatable roll 3|, the slack-loop rises and permits the light source 39 to illuminate the photo-electric cell. This illumination will materiallydecrease the resistance of the" photo-electric cell and shift the grid potential more and more towards that of the anode, until the critical grld-to-cathode voltage is reached, at which time a threshold discharge is initiated between the grid 208 and the cathode 209.

The cathode-to-grid threshold discharge is self-supporting, and since suflicient voltage exists between the anode and the grid, the discharge is transferred to the anode and a complete continuous discharge is effected between principalelectrodes 201 and 209.

The grid-glow tube, under this condition, passes current which energizes the relay 2I0. The discharge between the principal electrodes continues to persist as long as the photo-electric cell I99 is illuminated. The relay 2I0, when energized, establishes a circuit for energizing the relay 43, which controls the speed of the motor 32, as previously explained in connection with Figure 1.

However, as the speed is reduced, the sag of the slack-loop increases to intercept the light falling upon the photo-electric cell. As a result, the resistance of the photo-electric cell again assumes an extremely high value, and the grid potential relative to the cathode is decreased sufficiently that, when the alternating current passes through zero, the glow is extinguished.

the functioning or the said photo-electric cell tained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. A control system comprising, in I combination, means for delivering material, constant speed driving means therefor, means for receiving said material, means for causing the said material to have more than one direction of travel as it passes from the former to the latter means, variable speed driving means for driving said receiving means at substantially the speed of said constant speed driving means, and means including a photo-electric cell that is responsive to the" position of said material for varying the speed of said variable speed driving means.

2 A control system comprising, in combination, means for delivering materiahmeans for receiving said material, the relative positions of said delivering and said receiving means being such that the-material is free to sag as it passes from the former to the latter, and means inciudv ing a radiation responsive device for substantially maintaining the sag at a predetermined value. a

3. A control system comprising, in combination, means for delivering material, rotating means for receiving the said material, the relative positions of said delivering and said rotating means being such that the material is free to sag as it passes from the former to the latter, driving means for said rotating means, and means including a radiation responsive device for gradually reducing the speed of the said driving means as the diameter of the rotating means increases with the accumulation of material thereon.

4. Azcontrol system comprising, in combination, means for. delivering material, means for receiving said material, the relative positions of said delivering and said receiving means being such that the material is free to sag as it passes from the former to the latter, driving means for said receiving means, means including a radiation responsive device for decreasing the speed of the driving means when the sag is less than a predetermined value, and means including asecond radiation responsive device for increasing the speed of the driving means when the sag is more than a predetermined value.

5. A control system comprising, in combination, means for delivering material, means for receiving said material, the relative positions of said delivering and said receiving'means being such that the material is free to sag as it passes from the former to the latter, and means including a plurality of radiation responsive devices for maintaining the sag between an upper and a lower limit.

6. 'A control system comprising, in combination, means for ,delivering material, means for receiving material, the relative positions of said delivering and said receiving means being such that the material is free to sag as it passes from theformer to the latter, a generator having an armature and a field'winding, a motor for drivenergization of which is controlledby the sag bf the material as it passes from the delivering means to the receiving means forv varying the effectiveness of the field winding of said generator.

7; A control system comprising, in combination, means for delivering material, means for receiving said material, the relative position of said delivering and said receiving means being such as to provide a slack-loop in the material as it passes from the former to the latter, a generator having an armature and afield winding, a motor for driving the said delivering means and the said generator, a motor having an armature for receiving said material, the relative position of said delivering and said receiving means being such as to provide a slack-loop'in the material as it passes from the former to the latter, a generator having an armature and a field winding, a motor for driving the said delivering means and the said generator, a motor having an armature for driving the receiving means connected in closed circuit relation with the armature of said generator, and means including a radiation r esponsive device and a source of radiation for varying the excitation of the field winding of said generator, said radiation responsive. device and said source of radiation being.

so disposed relative to the slack-loop as to decrease the excitation of said field winding when the amplitude of the slack-loop is less than a predetermined value andto maintain the said excitation substantially constant when the said amplitude exceeds said predetermined value.

9. A control system comprising, in combination, means for delivering material, means for receiving said material, the relative position of said delivering and said receiving means being such as to provide a slack-loop in the material as it passes from the former to the latter, a generator having an arniatufe and a field winding, a motorfor driving the said delivering means and the said generator, 2. motor having an armature for driving the receiving means, connected in closed circuit relation with the armature of said generator,

- a variable resistor connected in circuit with the field winding of said generator, a motor for ac-' tuating the said resistor, means including a radiation responsive device for controlling the operation of said motor, said device being responsive to the magnitude of said slack-loop.

10. A control system comprising, in combination, means for delivering material, means for receiving said material, means for causing the said material to have more than one direction of travel as it passes from the former to the latter, means for driving said receiving means and means including a photo-electric cell and an electric discharge device for regulating the speed of said driving means in accordance with the speed at which the said material is being delivered thereto, said photo-electric cell being responsive to a predetermined mg of said material.

- ii. A control system comprising, in combination, means for delivering material, rotating means for receiving the said material, the relative positions of said delivering and said rotating means being such that the material is free to sag as it passes from theformer to the latter, means for driving said rotating means, and means including a photo-electric cell and an electric discharge device for gradually reducing the speed of the said driving means as the diameter or the rotating means increases, said photo-electric cell being responsive to the degree of sag.

12. A control system comprising, in combination, means for delivering material, means for receiving material, the relative positions of said I delivering and said receiving means being such that the material is free to sag as it passes from terial as it passes from thedelivering means to the receiving means.

, 13. A control system comprising, in combinatio means for delivering material, means for receiving said material, the relative position of said delivering and said receiving means being such as to provide a slack-loop in the material as it passes from the former to the latter, a generator having an armature and a field winding, a motor for driving the said delivering means and the said generator, amotor having an armature for drivingthe receiving means connected in closed circuit relation with the armature of said generator, means for varying the effectiveness of the field winding of said generator, and means including a photo-electric cell "and an electric discharge device for regulating" the field-varying means, said photo-electric cell being responsive to the magnitude of said slack-loop.

14. A control system comprising, in combination, means for delivering material, means for receiving said material, the relative position of said delivering and said receiving means being such as to provide a slack-loop in the material as it passes from the former to the latter, a generator having an armature and a field winding, a motor having an armature for driving the receiving means connected in closed circuit relation with the armature of said generator a variable resistor connected in circuit with the field winding of said-generator, a-motor for actuating the said resistors, and means including a photo-electric tube, and a grid glow tube for controlling the operation of said motor, said photo-electric tube being responsive to the magnitude of said slack-loop.

15. A control system comprising. in combination, means for delivering material, means for receiving said material, the-relative position of said delivering and said receiving means being such as to provide a slack-loop in the material as it passes from the former to the latter, a generator having an armature and a field winding, a motor for driving the said delivering means and the said generator, a motor having an armature for driving the receiving means connected in closed circuit relation with the armature of said generator, means including. a photo-electric tube, and an electric discharge device and a light source for varying the excitation of the field winding of said generator, said photo-electric cell and said light source being so disposed relative to the slack-loop as to decrease the excitation of said field'winding when the amplitude of the slack loop is less than a predetermined value and to maintain the said'excitation substantially constant when the said amplitude exceeds said predetermined value.

16. A control system comprising, in combination, means for delivering material, means for receiving said material, the relative position of said delivering and said receiving means being such as to provide a slack-loop in the material as it passes from the former to the latter, a generator having an armature and a field winding, a motor having. an armature for driving the receiving means, connected in closed circuit relation with the armature of said generator, a variable resistor connected in circuit with the field winding of said generator, 9. motor for actuating the said resistors, and means including a photo-electric tube for controlling the operation of said motor, said photoelectric tube being responsive to the magnitude of said slack-loop.

17. A control system comprising, in combination, means for delivering material, means for receiving said material, the relative positions of said delivering and said receiving means being such that the material is free to sag as it passes from the former to the latter, a motor having a field winding for driving said receiving means, a variable resistor connected in circuit with said field winding, an auxiliary motor for actuating the said resistor, and means including a plurality of radiation responsive devices and associated light sources for controlling the operation of said auxiliary motor, said radiation responsive devices being responsive to the sag of the material as it passes from the delivering means to the receiving means. l

18. A control system comprising, in combination, means for delivering materiaL'means for receiving said material, the relative positions of said delivering and said receivingmeans being such that the material is free to sag as it passes from the former to the latter, a motor having a field winding for driving said receiving means, a variable resistor connected in circuit with said field winding, an auxiliary motor for actuating the said resistor, means including a plurality of radiation responsive devices and associated radiation sources for controlling the operation of said auxiliary motor, the energization of said devices being controlled by the sag of the material as it passes from the delivering means to the receiving means, and means for controlling the operations of said auxiliary motor independently of said radiation responsive devices.

19. A control system comprising, in combination, means for delivering material, means for receiving said material, driving means for each of said two first mentioned means, the relative positions of said delivering means and receiving means being such that the material is free to sag as it passes from one to theother, a source of radiant energy, a radiation responsive. device disposed to be influenced by said source of radiant energy by an amount determined by the length of said sag, and control means controlled by said radiation responsive device controlling said driving means for the material receiving means to maintain the sag in said material at a certain length.

ARNOLD S. RUFSVOLD. 

